Just a few short words, without a beginning or an end, yet Qi Yubai immediately understood what she meant. His brows visibly lifted, as if somewhat surprised that she had guessed, but not entirely so.
He was well aware of her intelligence.
Those minute details that others would overlook even when seeing them—she could connect them all together and deduce the ins and outs of the situation.
Qi Yubai still kept his gaze lowered, looking at the person before him. Looking into her bright and clean apricot eyes, the long fingers hidden behind his back slowly began turning the prayer beads on his wrist. He neither intended to nor ever planned on hiding the things he had done.
He was never a saint.
A saint could not bring him closer to the one he held in his heart. If gratitude could shorten the distance between them, he did not mind being a despicable man.
“Why do you ask that?”
This was his question to Lanyin, but in a way, it was also his answer.
Hearing his response, Lanyin was not surprised at all. Instead, she even had a feeling that—indeed, this was just like him.
She lowered her head in contemplation, but her silence caused Qi Yubai to gradually fall into silence as well. After a brief moment, the hand turning the prayer beads slowly tightened, while the other hand, hidden within the wide sleeves of his crimson official robe, clenched slightly into a fist. After another pause, he kept his gaze lowered, pressed his thin lips together, and asked Lanyin, “Do you blame me?”
His expression remained the same as always, yet within his words, there was an unease even he himself had not noticed.
“What?”
Lanyin did not quite understand his meaning at first. She raised her head, looking at Qi Yubai in confusion. Seeing that the man remained silent as he gazed at her, she asked again, “Why would I blame you?”
Qi Yubai looked at her and said, “You had your own plans and had already instructed Tianqing. And yet, I… still chose my own way.” He seemed particularly fixated on her response. As he spoke, his deep and somber phoenix eyes never wavered from her. If Lanyin knew him a little better, she would have realized that this man—who had always been decisive in his actions—now showed a hint of hesitation and unease in his gaze.
He had done so much, yet he was not afraid of being retaliated against by Xiao Mingchuan and Lu Boting. What he feared was her disapproval.
“Do you think I disrupted your arrangements?”
The prayer beads had long ceased moving. His fingertips brushed over them, and he asked her softly.
Perhaps due to her astonishment, Lanyin did not even notice that Qi Yubai, who was usually a man of few words, had spoken so much today. She merely stared at him blankly, and once she finally grasped his meaning, she hurriedly responded, “How could I? You helped me—I should be thanking you, how could I possibly blame you?”
She truly did not blame Qi Yubai.
That day, when she instructed Tianqing not to inform the Qi family’s grandfather and grandson, it was merely because she had long been accustomed to handling complicated matters on her own. It was simply not her habit to rely on others, nor had she ever had anyone by her side to help her resolve difficult situations.
But that did not mean she was ungrateful.
She was not someone who would turn around and blame someone after receiving their help.
“I don’t blame you. On the contrary, I am very grateful to you. I truly did not expect Xiao Ye to turn out like this…”
Thinking of Xiao Ye’s actions today, Lanyin’s expression darkened slightly. However, the gloom was fleeting—she did not allow her bad mood to linger on her face for long. Soon, she lifted her face again and smiled at Qi Yubai.
“If not for your help, I fear that between him and me… it would have come to an irreconcilable end.”
Despite her usually gentle demeanor, she was not someone who would retrace her steps once a decision was made.
Even with His Majesty’s golden words, if she did not wish to do something, no one could persuade her otherwise. At worst… Before the thought could fully form in her mind, a male voice suddenly sounded by her ear.
“Do not act recklessly.”
The man’s voice was lower than usual, carrying an obvious tone of disapproval and displeasure. There was even a trace of nervousness that Lanyin had not noticed. Startled, she lifted her head and saw Qi Yubai looking at her, his long brows furrowed.
She was used to seeing Qi Yubai remain calm and unshaken. Seeing him like this was surprising—like discovering that someone you had always regarded as indifferent and detached, much like a revered yet distant Buddha in a temple, could actually frown, could be displeased, could possess human emotions.
“There is always a way to solve things. Nothing is more important than you staying alive.”
His voice reached her ears again. Lanyin, who had initially been caught off guard, gradually relaxed her brows. She did not know how Qi Yubai had guessed what was on her mind, but… his words had indeed soothed her greatly.
Yes.
There was always a way to solve things.
Moreover, the heavens had given her a second chance—not to let her repeat past mistakes. Looking at the man silently gazing at her, Lanyin’s expression suddenly softened. She sincerely expressed her gratitude, “Many thanks, my lord.”
But after speaking, she received no response from him.
She looked up and found that he was still watching her in silence, as if waiting for her to give him a promise.
When Qi Yubai pressed his lips together and remained silent while looking at someone, it carried an immense pressure. Yet strangely, Lanyin did not feel afraid. She just… felt a little helpless.
She did not know if her guess was correct, but right now, Qi Yubai was looking at her as though she were a disobedient child.
How many years had it been since someone treated her like this? Only her grandmother had ever regarded her as a child who never grew up.
And yet, this man was waiting for her promise.
There were people around, and Lanyin felt slightly embarrassed. But seeing the persistence in his gaze, she hesitated for a moment before finally softening her voice under his watchful eyes and said, “I will not do anything foolish. From now on… I never will.”
Only then did Qi Yubai seem satisfied. He nodded, his dark gaze lingering on her face for a moment before he finally looked away. He said to her, “Go to see Grandmother first. I will go change my clothes.” Then, turning to Tianqing, he added, “Take her there.”
“Yes.”
Tianqing responded immediately.
Lanyin had already received her answer, so she did not try to stop him. She gave a respectful bow and watched Qi Yubai leave. As she straightened up, she noticed Tianqing looking at her with a somewhat hesitant expression. Knowing what he was thinking, she smiled and said gently, “Thank you, Guard Qi, for your help this time.”
Only then did Tianqing sigh in relief. “As long as you don’t blame me for acting on my own accord.”
Lanyin smiled and shook her head. With Ting Yun by her side, she followed Tianqing toward Old Madam Qi’s Songzhi Courtyard. On the way, she asked, “Will this matter affect my lord?”
She was worried that Qi Yubai had made enemies in the court because of her, that Xiao Ye and Lu Boting might target him in the future.
“Don’t worry. My lord is always careful in his actions. That censor from the Censorate has never interacted with my lord, and as for Prime Minister Pang…” At this point, Tianqing gave Lanyin a surprised look. “By the way, how did you guess this was related to my lord?”
It only occurred to him now.
He had been extremely discreet in handling the matter with Censor Li—so much so that even Censor Li himself probably did not know that the matter was connected to his master.
As for Prime Minister Pang—
During the morning court session today, Prime Minister Pang had hardly said anything at all. How had Miss Gu guessed it?
Lanyin did not hide the truth and explained her reasoning. “At first, I just found it strange. After all, it was too much of a coincidence. Later, when I heard my lord speak, I was certain.”
Being able to sense something amiss from minute details and even tracing the clues back to the lord himself—this Miss Gu was truly intelligent. No wonder the master was so cautious.
However, the master’s reaction just now seemed as though he understood exactly what Miss Gu meant by “an irreconcilable end.” Tianqing furrowed his brows slightly at the thought but did not dwell on it. Instead, he offered a few more words of reassurance to Lanyin.
Only after hearing his repeated assurances that this matter would not affect Qi Yubai did Lanyin finally feel at ease. When they arrived at Songzhi Courtyard, she bid farewell to Tianqing and entered the room as a maid lifted the curtain for her.
Seated on the luohan bed, Old Madam Qi turned her head at the sound of movement. Seeing that Lanyin had arrived alone, she was slightly surprised. “Why are you by yourself? Where is Yu’er?”
Lanyin smiled at the question and replied, “I ran into the lord on the way here. He went to change his clothes.” She had spoken without thinking, but after saying it, she realized something felt off—why did Grandmother Qi’s words make it sound as though she and Lord Qi were naturally supposed to be together?
Then she recalled that over the past few days at the Qi residence, she had indeed been coming and going with Lord Qi almost every day.
Except for today.
“What are you thinking about?” Old Madam Qi saw her lower her brows in thought and asked curiously.
“Nothing.” Lanyin smiled.
Perhaps it was simply because she had gotten used to moving about with Lord Qi these past few days that Grandmother Qi had assumed they would be together. She did not think much more of it, taking the handkerchief from Yanhuan with a smile, thanking her as she wiped her hands before walking over to Old Madam Qi. As before, she was pulled down to sit beside the elder, but today, she could clearly sense that the old madam’s expression was even more joyful than usual.
Curious, she smiled and remarked, “Grandmother Qi seems very happy today.”
“I am.”
Old Madam Qi made no effort to hide her emotions.
Lanyin did not know what had happened but still smiled as she asked, “Did something good happen?”
Of course.
Her disappointing grandson had finally come to his senses. Not only had he come to his senses, but he had also chosen such a wonderful granddaughter-in-law for her. Just last night, she had dreamed of laughing in her sleep. Now that her dear granddaughter-in-law was sitting right beside her, how could she not be happy?
However, her grandson had warned her in advance. Old Madam Qi feared that if she was not careful, she might ruin his plans.
If she frightened her dear granddaughter-in-law away, she would have nowhere to cry.
So, as she held and admired Lanyin’s soft, delicate hands, she spoke, not entirely dishonestly, “You have finally escaped your hardships. Of course, I am happy.”
So that was the reason.
Lanyin believed her explanation and replied softly, “I’ve troubled you with worry.” After a moment of thought, she recounted what Qi Yubai had done for her, concluding with, “I originally didn’t intend to trouble Brother Qi.”
Old Madam Qi, however, was not the least bit surprised. Instead, she said matter-of-factly, “It is only right that he helps you.”